During the Sunday match the Chilean international Alexis Sanchez scored twice and helped Arsenal to a comfortable 3-0 win against Stoke City at the Emirates Stadium. The win moved his team above their north-London neighbours Tottenham to fifth place in the Premier League.

This was the Gunners' revenge for their 3-2 defeat in Stoke, just before Christmas and the win also opens up their hopes for moving up to fourth in the Premier League.

Arsenal started strongly and were quick to take the lead early in the first half, when Laurent Koscielny, a 29 year-old Arsenal and French defender, made a good use of Alexis Sanchez's cross from their third corner.

The Chilean, 26, then finished off a play with Czech Tomas Rosicky, 34, on the edge of the area and shot to the near post before the big Bosnian keeper Asmir Begovic could set himself. His goal in the 33th minute of the game doubled Arsenal's half-time lead.

Soon after the break, the Chilean International, who joined Arsenal last summer from Barcelona, was at it again, this time from a free-kick on the edge of the area. The power of his shot beat big Begovic who could only push the effort onto the post before ball rolled over the line. This was Sanchez's 18th goal of the season. This goal effectively killed the game off in the 49th minute.

The Stoke side's performance was well below the quality of their recent games.

The game had another challenge for Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who gave their Colombian international goalkeeper David Ospina a chance for his debut in the Premier League.

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Ospina, 26, first replaced the Gunners' Polish International number one goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny during the third round FA cup victory against Hull earlier in January. Szczesny was again left to watch the game from the bench. He found himself in the centre of some unpleasant publicity recently as he was caught smoking in the showers after Arsenal's disastrous performance against Southampton, on New Year's Day. The Pole was subsequently fined £20,000.

The Gunners are playing Man City away on Sunday, 18th January. What a game to watch!

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